News & Reviews

​Get to the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg and catch "Master Class" by Terence McNally directed by Richard Higgs for MADS. I was tired and not really up for going out but I went and was held captive throughout. Hats off to Richard for choosing this informative, sensitive, and engrossing piece if theatre. Accolades to Bernie Jacobs for a truthful and captivating performance of Maria Callas. Another stand out performance was given by Miranda Lewis who played a pupil in Ms Callas' Master Class. Wesley Wolhuter is quite superb as the accompanist. Well done Richard, cast and crew, I was totally immersed!

​Lieske Bester reviews Master Class (August 2016)

​This intimate and interesting look at Maria Callas – is appropriately set in the foyer of the Masque Theatre which enhances the effect of her holding a master class for selected aspiring opera singers. We see her as the perfectionist teacher but get to know her as a person a little bit better as she reminisces about her life and its high and low lights.Bernie Jacobs gives a convincing performance – more muted than I have seen on a previous occasion but all the more poignant for showing the gentler side of La Divina.The three ‘victims’ as she calls them (Linda Steele, Miranda Lewis, Mokoena Ramollo) produce contrasting and believable characterisations and reactions. Miranda Lewis is particularly impressive.. The accompanist (Wesley Wolhuter) is a star turn on his own with a talent for subtly varying the pieces on sundry repeats – and you will have snatches of that glorious voice from a woman who singly and radically changed the face and voice of opera.It is not often we have the opportunity to go behind the public face of celebrities and this is a fine example in script, direction and acting.A short run – only three performances left. Don’t miss it.